Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has opened up about the harsh realities of his brief incarceration, calling it a “gruelling” experience and a personal “nightmare.”
The 70-year-old politician made these remarks during a hearing in Paris where he appealed for his release pending further legal proceedings.
Sarkozy was convicted on October 21 and sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly conspiring to finance his successful 2007 presidential campaign with illicit funds from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
His legal team swiftly lodged an appeal and requested his immediate release from custody.
A ruling on the matter is anticipated around 1:30 PM local time (12:30 GMT), potentially allowing Sarkozy to walk free from La Santé prison by Monday evening if approved.
During the session, public prosecutor Damien Brunet suggested granting the release but with strict conditions, including a prohibition on Sarkozy contacting other individuals involved in the ongoing “Libyan dossier” investigation.
Vehemently maintaining his innocence, Sarkozy asserted that he had never entertained the “mad idea” of soliciting money from Gaddafi. “I will never admit to something I haven’t done,” he declared firmly.
He also expressed gratitude toward the prison staff, crediting them for their “exceptional humanity” that helped make his stay more tolerable.
In a show of family solidarity, Sarkozy’s wife, singer and model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, along with two of his sons, attended the courtroom proceedings.
This marks a historic moment, as Sarkozy becomes the first former French head of state to be imprisoned since Philippe Pétain, the World War II-era collaborator convicted of treason in 1945.
Since his detention began, Sarkozy has been housed in an isolation wing cell at the prison, with two bodyguards placed in adjacent cells for his protection.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez explained in October that such measures were necessary due to Sarkozy’s high-profile status and potential threats against him.
Sarkozy served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012. His post-presidency years have been marred by multiple legal battles, including a prior conviction in December where he was required to wear an electronic ankle monitor after attempting to bribe a magistrate for information on another case.
